Jacob Carver’s farewell

December 9, 2018

Dear Benjamin,

Today was Jacob Carver’s Farewell, he gave a nice talk. The problem was, all i could think about was yours. Afterwords I chatted with him for a minute. I’m so impressed by how fearless your generation of missionaries seems. I think I was mostly confident, but probably more from ignorance as to what was in store for me than anything else. Brother Carver asked me if there was anything that you needed that would be advisable for Jacob. All I could think of were the extra garments. I should have mentioned temple names too.

I assume you got your care package. I had to wait for the keyboard to come from Amazon before I sent it. Mom had all the other contents arranged in a cute, mom-styled box ready for you. Then I roughly dumped it in the Amazon box for resending, so sorry for the lack of cuteness.

I bought the iOS version of that keyboard for myself, they were only like $14 bucks. I’m using it now, it seams to work ok. if you have any issues with yours, let me know.

Friday night we watched two movies. We wanted to re watch the Winchester movie because we went to the mansion, also because Joey hadn’t seen it yet. He was actually pretty scared of it at first, but then he got ok with it. It was pretty dang accurate to the look and feeling of the real house, I actually liked it better because of that. We watched the extra features and it was filmed in Australia, and Most of the actors were Australian. Afterwards, we watched Elf, mostly to clear Joe’s mental palette from being scared, and because it is my favorite holiday movie. It kills me how the Elf actor, Will Farrel, can do the most embarrassing things in a way that has no self-consciousness to it. Every little thing like that is funny to me in that movie.

Utah basketball continues to stink. They lost pretty badly to BYU yesterday. I’m sorry to admit that I’ve kinda been a fair-weather fan with the bball team. I thought they would loose and i couldn’t bear watching a Nick Emory led team beat them again. At least I heard no reports of sucker-punches or racial epithets.

The other reason we skipped the game was to go measure grandpas shed for shelves, there are only two and grandma wants room to store her Christmas stuff. Mom was at Camille’s baby shower, so Jacob talked me into taking your brothers to lunch after (like that’s difficult). We went to Morellia’s, it was delicious, but of coarse I ate too much.

On the way home from the shower, it was in Bountiful, mom stopped by the “big” Costco. She called us and told us to meet her at grandmas. Grandmas one-year-old new trees lights went out, so aunt Lithia helped her return it. But now Grandma was without a tree, and that just cannot be. The problem is, this late in the year, most stores are sold out of them. Grandma said she cried when your Uncle Tim offered her a crappy little $20 tree. So mom to the rescue, she found a really nice tree for her at the big C. So we went to help her unload it and set it up. Grandma, and grandpa were very grateful. I really just love being with them..

Today for dinner mom made, along with roast beef and the works, parmesan cheese toast, like at Sizzler, but better. Sure made us miss you, you would have loved it. 

Speaking of missing, I can tell your brother Jacob is really hurting for you right now. I’m not sure if he even realizes how badly he does miss you. You are an amazing companion to both of your little brothers Ben. I think what they are missing in your companionship you are replacing with your example in service. 

We are having the big Christmas shin-dig at our house rather than aunt Patti’s this year. There was a little flood at her house due to the water in the kitchen sink being left on. Mom said the wood floors have already been ripped out, and they may have to rip out cabinets and ceilings before they are done. I’m kinda glad though (not for the flood, but that we get to be at our house), this way, we don’t have to be out-and-about during the day. We can stay put for your call. 

Well, we love you Ben. When ever I’m missing you my thoughts go through this cycle and I feel better. 1: I miss Benjamin. > 2: Would you rather he be here or be serving the Lord? > 3: Serving the Lord, d’uh! > 5: Then things are how they should be. > 6: I guess they are. > 7: they are! > 8: Maybe I wish they were still just little kids then. > 9: Snap out of it man!

Dad